Leisure, Arts And Communities Committee - 16/01/2006

At a MEETING of the LEISURE AND ARTS SERVICES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 16th January, 2006.

 

Present:-

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

 

 

 

BAILIES

 

C D P FARQUHAR

John CORRIGAN

Bruce D MACKIE

Helen WRIGHT

Neil I C POWRIE

Ian BORTHWICK

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Jill SHIMI

Fraser MACPHERSON

Christina ROBERTS

Kevin KEENAN

Helen DICK

Jim BARRIE

George REGAN

Nigel DON

Will DAWSON

Julia M STURROCK

Bob DUNCAN

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Fiona M GRANT

Richard BEATTIE

Roderick A J WALLACE

Christopher HIND

Andrew DAWSON

Charles A WEBSTER

Joe MORROW

Willie W SAWERS

Derek J SCOTT

 

Joe FITZPATRICK

 

 

 

 

Bailie FARQUHAR, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 16th December, 2005 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I DUDHOPE ARTS CENTRE

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN14-2006 advising the Committee that the Bharatiya Ashram Indian Centre for Education and Culture was currently examining the feasibility of developing the former Dudhope Arts Centre as a multi-cultural centre for Education, Culture and Health, and to that end they had been awarded funding of 5,000 from The Scottish Arts Council to undertake a feasibility study to test the cultural aspects of the project. The funding was conditional on obtaining local support.

 

It was further reported that the Ashram had also been successful in obtaining a sum of 18,900 towards an ongoing programme of Cultural Diversity. Funding was also conditional on obtaining local support.

 

The Committee therefore agreed that a sum of 500 be awarded in support of the Feasibility Study and a further sum of 1,890 to be awarded in support of the Cultural Diversity Programme, having noted that this expenditure could be met from the Leisure and Arts Department's 2005/06 Revenue Budget.

 

II DUNDEE FLOWER AND FOOD FESTIVAL 2006 HIRE OF FRAME TENTS AND MARQUEES

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN15-2006 making reference to Article XI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th April 2005 wherein the Committee accepted a three year framework tender with Purvis Marquees for the hire and erection of tents and marquees at the Dundee Flower and Food Festival. In accordance with the guidelines of the original agreement, the Committee therefore agreed to accept an offer for the hire and erection of all Frame Tents and Traditional Marquees for 1st, 2nd and 3rd September 2006 for 50,209.00 including insurance, from Purvis Marquees, having noted that this expenditure could be met from the Dundee Flower and Food Festival Revenue Budget.

III PURCHASE OF VEHICLE PLANT

 

There was submitted Report No 36-2006 by the Director of Leisure and Communities seeking approval for the purchase of an 8 tonne trailer for use within the Parks and Outdoor Leisure Section of the Leisure and Communities Department.

 

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer in the sum of 5,400 from Agricar Ltd, Forfar.

 

IV APPLICATION TO HOLD CARNIVALS

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN16-2006, advising that a request had been received from Hornes Pleasure Fairs, Edinburgh for permission to operate a carnival from 17th April to 1st May 2006 and 25th September to 9th October 2006 inclusive at Riverside Park, Dundee and also from 1st to 15th May, 2006 and 10th to 25th September 2006 inclusive at Caird Park, Dundee.

 

The Committee agreed that permission be granted and that it be remitted to the Director of Economic Development to negotiate a licence fee subject to the Council's normal conditions of let, which would include the closing down of the carnival operations each evening by 9.30 pm.

 

It was further agreed that the application would also be subject to Hornes Pleasure Fairs obtaining Public Entertainment Licences from the Licensing Committee under the Civic Government Act 1982.

 

V SPONSORED GOLF COMPETITIONS

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN17-2006 detailing Sponsored Golf Competitions for various dates in 2006 as detailed below:-

 

Camperdown 18 Hole Golf Course

 

Date

 

Competition

Time

 

 

 

 

Saturday

3 June

Stuart Patrick Cup

7.30 am - 12 noon

 

 

 

 

Thursday

8 June

J R Ritchie Ladies Rosebowl

10.00 am - 12 noon

 

 

 

 

Sunday

13 August

Lord Provost's Charity Cup

7.00 am - 1.00 pm

 

 

 

 

Thursday

17 August

Ladies Two Ball Foursomes Trophy

10.00 am - 12 noon

 

 

 

 

Sunday

10 September

Autumn Cup Second Round

7.00 am - 12 noon

 

Camperdown Pitch and Putt Course

 

Sunday

11 June

Camperdown Park Junior Open for the David Low Cup

12 noon - 3.00 pm

 

Caird Park 18 Hole Golf Course

 

Saturday

10 June

Reid Trophy Single Round Scratch Play

1.00 pm - 3.00 pm

 

 

 

 

Saturday

9 September

Autumn Cup First Round

7.00 am - 12 noon

 

Caird Park 9 Hole Golf Course

 

Friday

14 July

Whytock Cup Junior Open Tournament

1.00 pm - 4.00 pm

 

The Committee agreed that priority be granted in each case.

 

VI TENDERS RECEIVED

 

There was submitted Report No 42-2006 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing a tender received in respect of window protection works to the Old Steeple.

 

The Committee approved acceptance of an offer from Dundee Contract Services in the sum of 7,500, together with allowances of 1,265 for professional services, giving a total expenditure of 8,765.

 

VII SWIMMING AND LEISURE FACILITIES: ESTABLISHMENT OF A LEISURE COMPANY WITH CHARITABLESTATUS

 

There was submitted Report No 72-2006 by Director of Leisure and Communities, Assistant Chief Executive (Management) and Depute Chief Executive (Finance) outlining proposals to investigate the feasibility of establishing a Leisure Company to operate swimming and leisure facilities currently operated by the City Council and the implications of the proposed arrangements for the Council.

 

Councillor Shimi seconded by Bailie Farquhar moved approval of the undernoted proposals:-

 

(i) Instruct Officers to investigate the feasibility of forming a Leisure Company with charitable status, if possible, to be known as Dundee Leisure Limited or similar and once established, subject to committee approval the management and operation of Olympia Leisure Centre, Lochee Swimming and Leisure Centre, Dundee International Sports Centre, Lynch Sports Centre and Douglas Sports Centre to be transferred to Dundee Leisure Limited

 

(ii) Agree to the nomination of six Directors from Dundee City Council to the Board of Directors of Dundee Leisure Limited being two members from the Administration and two members from the opposition parties plus two officers from the Leisure and Communities and Finance Departments.

 

In addition to the Council Directors to agree two Directors from the Local Sports Council, two Directors from the Dundee City Disability Sport, two Directors from user groups (one each representing wet sports/dry sports) to be appointed annually at a general meeting and one Director from the Chamber of Commerce be invited to go on to the Board of the Company. Total number of Board members to be 13.

 

(iii) Agree to nominate the Convener of Leisure and Arts as a Board Member and as Chair of the Company as part of the representation from Dundee City Council.

 

(iv) Agree to the City Council nominating the Leisure and Communities Department's Head of Parks, Sports and Leisure as Managing Director and the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) as Finance Director of the new Leisure Company to assist in the good management of the company for the benefit of the public.

 

(v) Authorise the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) and Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to appoint financial and legal advisors to take forward the proposals and to draw up Articles and Memorandum for the new Leisure Company as soon as possible and gain charitable status from the Inland Revenue.

 

(vi) Remit the Chief Executive to finalise a lease and management agreement and to negotiate their agreement with Dundee Leisure Limited on the basis of the terms outlined in this report and other such terms as are necessary to protect the interests of the Council and report back to Committee with the details of the benefits to the Council. This to include approval of the lease by the Scottish Ministers and approval from sportscotland in respect of the transfer of Dundee International Sports Centre in view of previous sports lottery funds awarded.

 

(vii) Agree that relevant Departments of the City Council enter into Service Level Agreements to facilitate the transfer of the Leisure Centres Section of the Leisure & Communities Department to Dundee Leisure Limited. The Service Level Agreement to include provision for consultation and agreement on budgets and charging policy to Dundee Leisure Limited. The Service Level Agreement to include provision for consultation and agreement on budgets and charging policy.

 

(viii) Agree that Dundee Leisure Limited should take earliest operational and management responsibility for the facilities following completion of all legal formalities to conclude the transfer.

 

(ix) Agree to transfer, on their existing terms and conditions of employment, the staff presently providing the Leisure Centres Service all under TUPE conditions including job evaluation under single status. As the lease may only run for five years it is intended that all permanent employees transferred will be able to return to the Council's employment at the end of five years if the lease is not renewed.

 

(x) Agree that Dundee Leisure Limited be given full support to achieve admission to the Tayside Pension Fund as an admitted body.

 

(xi) Authorise a payment of a management fee in 2006/07 equivalent to the approved Revenue Budget deficits for these facilities adjusted for the savings calculated in Appendix A and agree, in principle, that the said management fee be adjusted in line with increases in the Leisure and Communities budget in future years.

 

(xii) Note that 100% Non Domestic Rates relief to Dundee Leisure Limited was expected to be granted.

 

As an amendment Bailie Borthwick seconded by Councillor Sawers moved that consideration of this matter be continued and that a Working Group be established comprising elected members, officers and trade union representatives to consider in depth the proposals contained in Report No 72-2006 and to report back to Committee.

 

On a division, there voted for the motion - Lord Provost Letford, Bailies Farquhar, Wright, Powrie and Mackie, Councillors Shimi, Keenan, Regan, Sturrock, Grant, Hind, Morrow, McPherson, Dick, Wallace, Webster and Scott (17); and for the amendment - Bailies Corrigan and Borthwick, Councillors Don, Duncan, Beattie, Andrew Dawson, Sawers, FitzPatrick, Roberts, Barrie, Will Dawson and Fordyce (12) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

 

 

CHARLES FARQUHAR, Convener